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Once your budgie is finger trained and is happily hopping on and off your finger, you may want to take things a little further. One of the first ‘tricks’ to teach him is the ‘step-up’. This should take place in a space where your budgie feels safe and secure, and where there are no distractions.
Budgie Step-Up Training
This next-level hand training is simple. With your budgie perched on your finger or hand, offer the index finger of your other hand. The aim is to get him to step up onto the new perch. If he’s reluctant, you can use the technique you employed when first finger training – rub your finger gently above his legs to stimulate the stepping action. Don’t lure him up with a treat, carrot-on-a-stick fashion – save the treat for when he’s successfully stepped up.
Next, present the original finger and get him to hop on, then the other finger, and so on, getting him to step up each time. He will soon begin to take the steps without the leg-rub, and without the constant supply of treats.
Once step-up is mastered, you should be able to get your budgie to perch on your shoulder or head (they like to be high up – that’s where they feel safest). You probably won’t have to work hard at this – the bird will instinctively use you as a resting place now he’s completely relaxed in your company and has associated you with mobile perches and treats.
Budgies will happily perch on you and the furniture
You may want to introduce the budgie to other parts of the house at this point. Talk to him gently as you transport him from A to B, and make sure your destination has closed windows, no open fireplaces, no hungry cats, etc.
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